Hydraulic motor actuated mechanism for spinner type washing machines and the like



Nov. 6, 1951 c. A. RUBANO 2,574,418

HYDRAULIC MOTQR ACTUATED MECHANISM FOR SPINNER TYPE WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 25, 1944 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Fl I.

Inventor: Carmel l A.Rub no,

b JG 4. (7 4 His tborney.

1951 c. A. RUBANO HYDRAULIC MOTOR ACTUATED MECHANISM FOR SPINNER TYPE WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1944 Inventor. Carmell A.Rubano.

l atented Nov. 6, 1951 HYDRAULIC moron scrum muons- NISM roa srmmia ma wasnmo luacnmss sun 'rnn mm Carmel! A. Bnbano, llamden, Conn. aslignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application AW 25, 1944, Serial No. 551,122

1' 16 Claims.

"The present invention relates to washing and drying machines and is particularly concerned with a hydraulic driving mechanism adapted for mounting within a sealed casing containing a lifetime supply of oil.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in washing machines of this type, and for a consideration of what I believe novel and my invention attention is directed to the following description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accomp nyin awing, Fig.1 is a sectional elevation of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the driving mechanism; and Figs. 3, 4. 5, and 6 are sectional views taken on lines 2-2, 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a washing machine of the construction disclosed in application 8. N. 551,096, Woodson, filed August 25, 1944, now PatentNo. 2,527,238, having an outer casing or tub I in the upper part of which is located a spinner basket 2 having centrifugal discharge openings 2 at the region of greatest diameter which during washing are at or slightly vabove the liquid level. The spinner basket is non-rotatably seated in a carrier 4 having annular walls I surrounding the basket and serving as a balance ring and having radial arms 6 bolted to a huh I fixed by a clamp 2 to a tubular shaft 9 for driving the spinner basket. The space between the basket and the hub is sealed by a rubber sleeve la having its upper end fixed to the hub and its lower end fixed to the basket. At the upper end of the hub is a hearing I! for the lower end of a bladed agitator il fastened by a nut ii to the upper end of a drive shaft I2 journaled in bearings Ha, "I: in the spinner shaft 2. An oil retaining felt ring l2d is associated with the bearing 12a. The shaft N has fixed thereto an agitator drive nut l4 fitting in a complementary socket I! in the agitator hub it. A shaft seal Ma is provided between the upper ends of the spinner and agitator shafts 2 and I2.

In the agitator hub 82 at or slightly below the wash water level in the spinner basket are drain passages l2 leading to the space between the spinner shaft 9 and the agitator hub it. The water draining through these passages flows through the space between the shaft 2 and the agitator hub and through passages i2 in the carrier hub I to the bottom of the outer casing I whence it is pumped onto an annular filter 2! on the rim of the spinner basket by a circulating pump 20. The pump has itsinlet OIIMGM $0 the lowermost part of the casing and its discharge connected to a conduit 20a having a nozzle 20b directed onto the filter. The pump is operated during washing so the wash water is continually withdrawn from the spinner basket through the passages l2 and I9 (and possibly openings 2) and returned to the basket through the filter 2 I. The continuous circulation and filtering of the water removes lint and other particles and keeps the wash water clean. The amount of wash water flowing through the passages I8 and I9 automatically adjusts itself to the capacity of the pump 2| by slight variation of the wash water level. Ii. the pump should fail to operate, the wash water level would fall only slightly below the lower edges of the opening is which is only slightly less than the desired water level for washing. There is also provided a drain pump 20c having its inlet connected to the lowermost part of the outer casing i and its discharge connected to a conduit 2041 leading to a drain.

The concentric spinner and agitator drive shafts 2 and I2 are driven by mechanism enclosed within a sealed casing 22 having its upper end projecting through opening 22 in the bottom wall 24 of the outer casing. The space between the casing 22 and the wall 24.is sealed by a flexible annular rubber ring 2! having its inner edge clamped to the casing 22 and its outer edge clamped to the wall 24. only as a seal but as a flexible connection preventing the transmission of vibrations to the outer casing. The upper end of the casing 22. which is above the maximum water level in the outer casing I, is provided with a reduced hub 21 which projects within a skirt 2! at the lower end of the hub l and is provided with a seal 29 and a sleeve bearing 20 for the spinner shaft 2.

During both washing and centrifugal drying the upper part of the gear casing 22 is cooled by the wash water. During washing. the wash water falls onto the upper end of the gear casing from the passages l9. During centrifugal drying, the wash water discharged through the centrifugal discharge openings 2 falls into the bottom of the outer casing and partially submerges the upper end of the gear casing.

The driving motor Ila for the machine is carried in a frame 2| fastened to the under side of a flange 24 at the center of the gear casing 22 and enclosed by a shell 22 (also fastened to the image 22) which forms the lower part of the gear casing. The motor shaft 22 is joumaled at its upper end in the cylinder of a hydraulic motor 34a. The lower half 24 of the motor cylinder is The ring 25 serves not Journaled in a bearing in the motor frame 3! and the upper half 35 is fixed to the spinner shaft 9. The weight of the spinner basket and contents is carried on a thrust washer 3$a at the upper end of the bearing 35. The lower end of the motor shaft 33 is journaled in a bearing 31 in the frame 3|. The lower end of the bearing 31 is provided with an eccentric bore 3! closed by a plate 35 and forming the housing of a vane type rotary oil pump. The oil pump housing is connected with a sump at the bottom of the shell 32 by a suction intake and is provided with a pressure discharge passage 4|. The rotor of the pump consists of the extreme lower end of the motor shaft 33 which'is slotted to receive vanes 42 which are held by centrifugal force against the bore 35. On the under side of the plate 3! is a chamber formed between a dished member 44 and the under side of the plate. Fixed Y in the member 44 is a tube 43 coaxial with a port 45 in the plate 39 normally closed by a spring biased plunger 45 of a solenoid valve 41 mounted on the under side of the plate 39. When the solenoid valve is energized, the plunger 45 is moved downward opening the port 45 to connec a drilled passage 48 in the motor shaft to the oil sump at the bottom of the shell 32 through an opening 43a in the lower end of the tube 43. The passage 45 feeds an eccentric vane pump having an intake passage 49 fed throu h passage 50 in the shaft and passages 5| and groove 52 in part 34. The rotor of the pump comprises a cylinder 53 keyed to the motor Shaft having diametrically opposed slots receiving vanes 54 (Fig. 3) which are thrown out by centrifugal force against an eccentric bore 55 in the part 34. The pump discharge is through a passage 56 in a plate 56a to the interior of a rotary valve 51 connected through a passage 55 to a pressure relief valve 55. In Fig. 2 for purposes of illustration, intake passage 45 is shown as being located in the plane of the section on which Fig. 2 is taken and in line with discharge passage 56. Actually, passages 45 and 58 are not in alignment. the passage 49 being out of alignment with passage 56 as shown in Fig. 3, this being a well known arrangement of inlet and outlet ports in a vane type eccentric pump such as that illustrated. The valve 51 is rotated through reduction gearing comprising a pinion 50 on the moto shaft meshing with a gear 5| on a stub shaft 62 fixed in a plate 53 clamped between the cylinder parts 84 and 35. Integral with the gear Si is a pinion 54 meshing with a gear 56 cut in a flange at the lower end of the valve 51. When the motor shaft 33 is running at its full speed the valve 51 is rotated at the speed at which the agitator should be oscillated. In this construction where the agitator is to be oscillated at oscillations per minute the valve 51 is rotated at a speed of 60 R. P. M. During each revolution of the valve, oil is admitted first to one and then to the opposite side of a vane piston 51 fixed to the lower end of the agitator shaft I3. During the rotation of the valve 51, passages 88 and 69 on opposite sides of the vane piston 51 are alternately connected to the discharge passage 56 of the fluid pump and to a discharge passage 10, causing oscillation of the piston through the angular range permitted by the design of the cylinder (slightly over 180 degrees in the present construction). The oil discharged from the pas sage I0 is sprayed over the inner walls of the casing 22 for cooling purposes. If the agitator encounters an exceptionally heavy load, the vane piston may not oscillate the agitator through the full stroke.

The operation of the valve is more easily explained with reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 6 which are sectional views of the upper, middle, and lower valve portswhich. are connected respectively to the passages 55, 15, and 55. The upper section of the valve (Fig. 4) has a semicircular groove ll connected through a passage 12 and the interior of valve 51 to the discharge passage 56 of the fluid pump and a semicircular groove 13 connected through a port 14 to an annular groove 15 at the middle section of the valve which at all times communicates with discharge passage 15. In the position illustrated, pressure is supplied from discharge passage 55 to the. passage 55 soas to cause clockwise movement of the vane piston 51 as viewed in Fig. 4. The lower section of the valve (Pig. 6) comprises a semicircular groove 15 connected through a port 15 to the middle section of the valve and a semicircular groove 11 connected through a passage 18 and the interior of valve '51 to the discharge passage 55 on the fluid pump. In the position illustrated, the passage 5! on the opposite side of the piston 51 is connected through the groove 15 and the port Ii to the annular groove (Sat the middle section of the valve (Fig. 5). When the valve turns 180 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated, the passage 65 is connected to the discharge passage 15 and the passage 5! is connected to the pump discharge passage 55. This results in a hydraulic oscillation of the agitator. Oscillation. of the agitator may be stopped by cutting off the supply to the agitator pump intake by deenergizing the solenoid valve 41 at the lower end of the motor shaft. The spring pressed plunger 46 then closes the port 45. The agitator will oscillate only when the solenoid valve 41 is energized to open port 45. While the maximum stroke is fixed by the construction of the cylinder, the stroke may be less than maximum dependent upon the agitator load. If the valve plunger 45 partly closes the port 45 when the solenoid valve is deenergized, the agitator would have two strokes, a full stroke when the solenoid valve is energized and the port 45 is fully open and a shorter stroke when the solenoid valve is deenergized and the agitator pump intake port 45 is partially closed by the plunger 45. The shorter stroke would be useful inwashing more delicate clothes.

Splined on the lower end of the lower half 34 of the hydraulic agitator driving motor as is indicated at 98 is a conical brake member urged by a coil spring 5| into engagement with a complementary brake surface 82 on the motor frame 31. The spring BI is arranged between a flange 83 on the brake member 80 and the upper half 84 of a kinetic type fluid coupling 55. when the brake surfaces are engaged, the cylinder of hydraulic motor 34a and the spinner basket are held against rotation and the agitator may be oscillated for washing.

The brake is released to permit rotation of the spinner basket by oil supplied from the pump at the lower end of shaft 33 through passages 55. 81, 88, and -89 to the interior of a bellows 90 having its upper end 9| fixed to the lower part 34 of the cylinder 54d and having its lower end fixed to the brake nier'r'iber' 80. The oil pressure supplied to the'bellows is controlled by a normally open solenoid valve 82 having a plunger 83 which controls the'oil' flow through a passage "a leading from the passage 06. when the solenoid valve 92 is deenergized. the passage 93a is open, bleeding oil from the passage 00 so the oil pressure is insufficient to expand the bellows. when the valve is energized, the passage 83a is closedfid the pressure in the passage It builds up to a value sufficient to expand the bellows. forcing the brake member 80 downward clear of the brake surface 82. The lower end of the oil passage 89 communicates through a passage 94 with the interior of the fluid coupling ll. Upon supplying oil to the fluid coupling, a hydraulic drive is established through the lower half DI of the coupling which is keyed to the motor shaft 33 to the upper half 84 of the coupling which is connected to the spinner basket through its connection with the cylinder of hydraulic motor Ila. The hydraulic coupling results in a smooth and quiet acceleration of the spinner basket.

Since both the agitator and spinner baske drive depend upon oil pressure. neither can be established until the motor is running. This decreases the motor starting load and further prevents damage due to failure of the power supply while the control is in either the washing or spinning position. All of the parts are encamera closed in a sealed casing which contains a lifetimesupply of oil which is used for full pressure Y lubrication of bearings, for the control of the washing and drying operations, and for cooling the motor and mechanism.

The power leads for the motor and the solenoid valves are led into the sealed casing through glass-to-metal seals 96, and the control is effected through remote switches (not shown) in the leads. The motor switch may be closed at all times. For washing, thesoelnoid valve 41 is energized and valve 92 is deenergized. For centrifugal drying, the solenoid valve ll is deenergized (or not if desired) and the solenoid valve 92 is energized. If the valve 41 is energized during drying, the agitator oscillates at a gradually decreasing speed as the spinner basket accelerates and will cease oscillation when the spinner basket reaches full centrifugal drying speed. The machine is stopped by deenergizing the motor.

The agitator shaft bearings 13a, l3b, are pressure-lubricated through a tube 81 which will be supplied with oil under pressure during washing. During spinning if the valve 41 is deenergized, the oil pressure to the tube 91 will drop so the hearings will have to be designed to run during spinning without additional oil.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

i. In combination. two members to be driven, a hydraulic motor having a rotatably mounted cylinder connected to one of said members, a piston connected to the other of said members and power driven valve means for admitting hydraulic pressure alternately on one side and the betweenthe shaft and the cylinder for coupling the cylinder to the shaft for rotation thereby; and valve means for directing fluid from said pump means to the coupling and to the hydraulic motor.

2. In combination, two members to be driven, a hydraulic motor having a rotatable cylinder connected to one of said members, a piston within said cylinder connected to the other of said memhers and a power driven valve for directing hydraulic pressure alternately on one side and the 6 otherof said piston to drive the same for oscillation oiv its associated member, a source of hydraulic pressure, a drive shaft, a kinetic type fluid coupling between said shaft and said cylinder, a brake for restricting rotation of said cylinder, a hydraulic operator for releasing said brake upon supply of hydraulic pressure thereto, valve means for supplying fluid to said operator and coupling to release the brake and eil'ect driving connection between the drive shaft and the cylinder, and means for supplying fluid to the motor via the valve thereof for operation of said piston.

3. In combination, two members to be driven,

a hydraulic motor having a rotatable cylinder connected to one of said members and a reciprocating piston, connected to the other of said members, a brake for said cylinder, a drive shaft, 9. source of hydraulic pressure, valve means driven by said shaft for directing hydraulic pressure into 'said cylinder to effect reciprocation of said piston, a kinetic type fluid coupling between said shaft and said cylinder, a hydraulic operator for releasing the brake upon the supplying of fluid thereto, a fluid passage from the hydraulic operatorto the coupling, means for supplying fluid pressure to the hydraulic operator and to said passage to effect. release of said brake and connection of the drive .shaft to said cylinder, and means for supplying fluid pressure to the hydraulic motor to eflect reciprocation of the piston.

4. In a machine having a rotatable member and an associated reciprocatory member, a sealed casing containing an oil pump, a hydraulic motor for operating the reciprocatory member, a newer shaft, a hydraulic coupling between said power shaft and said rotatable member, valve means controlling the supply of oil from the pump to the motor and to the coupling for effecting reciprocation of said reciprocatory member and rotation of said rotatable member and a. brake for restraining rotation of said rotatable member during periods of operation of said reciprocati member.

5. The combination with two members to be driven, of a hydraulic motor comprising a rotatable cylinder and a movable piston in the cylinder, means connecting the rotatable cylinder to one of said members, means connecting the piston to the other of said members, a brake for holding the rotatable cylinder stationary when the piston is actuated, a driving motor, a fluid pump driven by the driving motor,

power driven valve means connecting the discharge side of the fluid pump to the hydraulic motor to effect operation of said movable piston to operate the one member connected thereto, a second fluid pump driven by said driving motor, valve means at the discharge side of said second pump to control fluid to said first named pump, fluid actuated means operable to release said brake, a fluid coupling through which said driving motor is connected to said rotatable cylinder, and means for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid actuated means and to said fluid coupling to release said brake and effect a driving connection between said driving motor and said rotatable cylinder and valve means for controlling said fluid pressure supply to said fluid actuated means and fluid coupling.

6. The combination with a. first member to be rotated and a second member to be oscillated, of a hydraulic motor comprising a rotatable cylinder connected to the first member and an oscillatable piston in the cylinder connected to the second member, a brake for holding the rotatable cylinder stationary when the piston is oscillated, a driving motor, fluid pump means driven by the driving motor, valve means driven by said driving motor and through which fluid discharging from said pump means is connected to, said cylinder to effect oscillation of said piston, fluid pressure actuated means for releasing said brake and connecting the driving motor to said cylinder to eflect rotation of said flrst member, and means for supplying fluid pressure from said pump means to said fluid pressure actuated means.

7. For use in a washing machine or the like, the combination of a pair of shafts and mechanism for effecting oscillation of one shaft and rotation of the other comprising a stationary support having a bearing, a casing supported in said bearing for rotation therein, a fluid pump in said casing, a motor for driving said pump, fluid motor means in said casing connected to said shaft means, a valve within'said casing and driven by said pump drive motor to direct fluid supplied by said pump means to said fluid motor means for effecting oscillation of said one shaft, a brake for said casing for holding it from rotation in said bearing. hydraulic pressure means for effecting release of said brake, means for supplying pressure to said brake release means and means operated by fluid from said brake release means for effecting the rotation of said casing and said other shaft when the brake is released.

8. In a washing machine or the like, the combination of a mat member to be oscillated, a second member to be rotated, a stationary support having a bearing, a casing supported in said bearing for rotation therein, means connecting said second member to said casing, fluid pump means in said casing, a motor for said pump means, fluid motor means in said casing connected to said flrst member and actuated by fluid supplied by said pump means for effecting oscillation of said flrst member, a brake for said casing for holding it from rotation in said bearing, hydraulically operated means for effecting release of said brake, fluid coupling means for effecting the rotation of said casing and said second member by said pump drive motor when the brake is released and means for supplying fluid to said coupling and to said brake release means.

9. For use in a washing machine or the like, a stationary support having a bearing, a combined fluid pump and fluid actuated motor means having a casing rotatably mounted in said bearing, said pump supplying fluid to said motor means for actuating it, a motor for driving said pump, a brake biased to engaged position for holding said casing stationary, a fluid coupling connection between said casing and said pump drive motor, a flrst member to be oscillated, a

' second member to be rotated, means connecting the fluid motor means to said first member for effecting oscillation of such member, means connecting said casing to said second member for rotation thereof, and means for eflecting release of said brake and connection of said casing to said pump drive motor to effect rotation of said casing. said means including a hydraulic cylinder acting directly on said brake to disengage the same and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder and to said coupling.

10. For use in a washing machine or the like, a stationary support having a bearing, a combined fluid pump and fluid actuated motor means having a casing rotatably mounted in said bearing, said pump supplying fluid to said fluid actuated motor means for actuating it, an electric motor for operating said pump, a brake for holding said casing stationary, a flrst member to be oscillated, a second member to be rotated, means connecting the fluid motor means to said first member for eifecting oscillation of such member, means including a kinetic type fluid coupling connecting said casing to said second member, and means for effecting release of said brake and rotation of said casing by said electric motor for rotating said second member.

11. For use in a washing machine or the like, a stationary support having a bearing, a combined fluid pump and fluid actuated motor means having a casing rotatably mounted in said hearing, said pump supplying fluid to said motor means for actuating it, a brake for holding said casing stationary, a hydraulic actuator for releasing said brake, a shaft to be oscillated, a shaft to be rotated, means connecting the motor means to the first-named shaft for effecting oscillation of such shaft, means connecting said casing to said second-named shaft, an electric motor for operating said pump to generate pressure fluid to drive said fluid motor for oscillation of said first-named shaft and for rotating said casin to effect rotation of said second-named shaft, a second motor driven pump, and valve means for directing pressure fluid from said second pump to said brake actuating means for releasing said brake when the casing is to be rotated.

12. For use in a Washing machine or the like, a stationary support having a bearing. a combined fluid pump and fluid actuated motor means having a casing rotatably mounted in said hearing, said pump supplying fluid to said motor means for actuating it, a flrst member to be oscillated, a second member to be rotated, means connecting the motor means to the first member for effecting oscillation of such member, means connecting said casing to said second member, a brake for holding said casing stationary when said flrst member is to be oscillated,

"an electric motor for operating said pump to effect oscillation of said first member and for rotating said casing to effect rotation of said second member and means for releasing said brake.

13. For use in a washing machine or the like, a stationary support having a bearing, a combined fluid pump and fluid actuated motor means havin a casing rotatably mounted in said bearing, said pump supplying fluid to said motor means for actuating it, a shaft to be oscillated, a shaft to be rotated, means connecting the motor means to the first-named shaft for effecting oscillation of such shaft, fluid coupling means connecting said casing to said second-named shaft, a brake to hold said casing against rotation during oecillation of said shaft, an electric motor for operating said pump to effect oscillation of said first-named shaft and for supplying fluid to said coupling for rotating said casing to eflect rotation of said second-named shaft and means for releasing said brake.

14. For use in a clothes washing machine, concentric shafts, mechanism including electric motor driving means and coupling means including an oscillatable mechanism for connecting said driving means to one of said shafts for effecting oscillation of such shaft and a kinetic type fluid coupling for connecting said driving means to the other of said shafts for electing rotation thereof, hydraulically controlled means for brak-' ing said other shaft during oscillation of said first named shaft, and means including a source of hydraulic pressure and an externally controllable valve means for directingfluid under pressure to said brake means and supplying said kinetic coupling.

15. A mechanism for selectively driving a pair of shafts comprising electric motor driving means, coupling means including an oscillatable mechanism for connecting said motor driving means to one of said shafts for effecting oscillation 05 said shaft, kinetic type fluid coupling means for connecting said motor driving means to the second of said shafts for effecting rotation thereof, brake means for said second shaft, means biasing said brake into engaged position during oscillation of said first named shaft to restrain rotation of said second shaft, and control means operative to render ineifective said first shaft coupling means and to disengage said brake means for rotating said second shaft.

16. For use in a clothes washing machine, a

mechanism for selectively driving a pair of shafts comprising an electric motor. a power shaft driven by said motor, an oscillatory mechanism driven by said power shaft, means connecting oscillation of said first named driven shaft.

J CARMELL A. RUBANO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,542,650 Adams June 16, 1925 1,611,895 Dienner Dec. 28, 1926 1,912,060 Beattie et al. May 30, 1933 2,301,046 Henderson Nov. 3, 1942 2,346,152 Clark Apr. 11, 1944 2,401,002 Langfelder May 28, 1946 

